Outboard motor boat turn control means



Nov. 24, 1959 E. VAN RADEN 2,914,020

OUTBOARD MOTOR BOAT TURN CONTROL MEANS Filed June 4, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l A TTOXENE Y N0 24, 1959 E. VAN RADEN OUTBOARD MOTOR BOAT TURN CONTROL MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet v2 Filed June 4, 1958 IN VENTOR. Vf/P7 l/A/v ,PAM/v 4 TTOIEVVEY United States Patent O oUroARD MOTOR BOAT TURN l CONTROL MEANS Evert Van Raden, Ore Lake, Mich.

Application June 4, 1958, Serial No. 739,736

6 Claims. (Cl. 11S-18) This invention relates to outboard motors and in particulai to improved means for mounting an outboard motor on a boat for the purpose of improving the turn characteristics of the outboard motor boat.

Outboard motors are conventionally mounted on the transom or other member at the stern of a boat by means of a mounting bracket land a mounting plate hingedly connected by a horizontal hinge pin to the Vtop of the said mounting bracket. The mounting bracket generally consists of a pressure plate including inverted U-shaped arms, and is secured tothe transom of the boat by suit` able screw clamps threaded through said arms. The outboard motor including its Vdepending drive shaft housing having a rearwardly facing propeller at the lower end thereof is mounted in a horizontal arcuate turnable relationship to the said mounting plate about a normally vertical king pin. A suitable skeg is provided at the bottom of the drive shaft housing to protect the propeller. Turning the outboard motor on a horizontal arc about the said vertical king pin Yfor steering the boat is generally accomplished by a steering arm or the like. The outboard motor may be swung in a vertical arc about the horizontal hinge pin connecting its mounting plate to its mounting bracket for the purpose of lifting the drive shaft housing and propeller out of the water. Should the propeller skeg `or the drive shaft housing run afoul of an obstruction when the outboard motor boat is in use, the said outboard motor would swing in a vertical arc about'its horizontal hinge pin to avoid damage thereto or damage to the transom of the boat. The thrust of the propeller maintains the outboard motor in its normal vertical position against the pressure plate of the mounting bracket when it is in operation.

An outboard motor boat generally lists severely when the outboard motor thereof is swung in a horizontal arc by its steering arm to steer the boat around turns, which listing is aggravated by the fact that the propeller rises from its normal depth toward the surface of the water as the boat takes its turn toward the low side of the boat.

Accordingly, the primary object of this invention is to provide an improved outboard motor mounting wherein the Outboard motor pivots laterally in atransverse verti' v in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: t

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal view part in elevation and part in section showing kan outboard motor mounting meansy embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top view of the outboard motor 17 by means of an anchor pin 165.

u 2,914,020 Patented Nov. 24, 1959 ICC,

mounting means disclosed in Fig. l with portions broken away to clearly show the construction thereof.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the mounting plate preferably employed.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the mounting plate shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Fig. 6 is a more or less diagrammatic rear elevational view of a boat having an outboard motor mounted on the transom thereof according to the invention showing the motor and boat in their normal attitude assumed when the boat is being ldriven in a straight forwardly direction. Y

Fig. 7 is a rear elevational view similar to Fig. 6 except that the motor and boat are shown in an attitude assumed thereby when the boat is being driven on a course other than straight.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, the improved outboard motor mounting means 10 shown in thedrawings to illustrate the invention includes a mounting bracket 11, a mounting plate 12 hingedly connected by a horizontal `hinge pin 13 to the mounting bracket 11, and a motor support 14 having a forwardly extending longitudinal tapered pivot pin 15 turnably mounted in a complementarily tapered socket in the said mounting plate 12 at the center of the top thereof. A suitable washer and lock nuts 151 maintain the said tapered pivot pin in turnable relationship in the said tapered socket 120 of the mounting plate 12.

An outboard motor 20 having a base element 200 is turnably mounted on the motor support 14 by means of a king pin 16 which extends `vertically downwardly from and through the motor base element 200, through a vertical bore 140 in the motor support 14 and through a vertical bore 170 in a forwardly disposed king pinv anchor block 17 fixed in any suitable manner to the depending propeller shaft housing 201 of the said outboard motor 20. The said outboard motor 20 and its propeller shaft housing 201 is fixed in non-turnable relationship to the said king pin 16 by means of suitable anchor pins 'andy 161 respectively, thus permitting the motor 20 which is pivotally supported on the motor support 14 about the vertically disposed king pin 16 to be swung in a horizontal arc responsive to manual turning thereof by a steering arm 202 preferably pivotally connected to the said outboard motor base element 200 by such means as a horizontally disposed pivot pin 203. The lower end of the king pin 16 is preferably threaded and transversely bored to accommodate a washer 162, a nut 163 and a cotter pin 164 which assure the maintenance of the king pin 16 in rigid assembled relationship The outboard motoi 20 has mounted on the lower endl of its propeller shaft housing 200 a propeller gear box 204 and a rearwardly disposed propeller 205. `A skeg 206 at the bottom of the propeller gear box 204 p rof v tects the propeller in the event the outboard motorvboat 40 is'operated in sufficiently shallow water to permit the lower portion of the outboard motor 20 to run aground.-`

The segmental beveled pinion 18 is iixedly mounted on the king pin V16 just above the king pin anchor block `The said pinionA 18 meshes with an arcuate beveled rack 121 formed at the bottom of ythe mounting plate 12, the radius R of the arc of the said arcuate beveled rack 121 preferably being taken from the center C of the longitudinaltapered socket 120 in the said'mounting plate 12 as shown in Fig. 3. Referring now particularly to Figs. 3, 4 and 5,

the said mounting plate 12 is preferably a at vertically disposed casting having a central upwardly disposed boss 1200 through which the horizontally disposed tapered socket 120 is formed. Extending forwardly from the said mounting plate 12at the top thereof is a pair of laterally spaced mounting arms 122 each having a transverse aperture 123 therethrough to accommodate the horizontal hinge pin 13 which also extends through the mounting bracket 11 as best shown in Figs. lrand 2. The central portion of the mounting plate 12 is preferably hollowed-out at 124 as best shown in Fig. 3.

The mounting bracket 11 is preferably constructed of a rear plate 110 having laterally spaced forwardly disposed head members 111 terminating in downwardly extending clamp arms 112 through which screw clamps 21 are mounted, the said screw clamps 21 having rearwardly disposed pads 210 and forwardly disposed hand knobs 211 by means of which the pads 210 of the said screw clamps 21 may be tightened manually against the inside of the transom 400 of a boat 40 to firmly secure the outboard motor in. operating position onto the said transom 400 of the said boat 40 as best shown in Fig. l. The said head members 111 of the mounting bracket 11 are provided with horizontally disposed laterally aligned bores 1110 to accommodate the horizontal hinge pin 13 upon which the mounting plate 12 is pivotally supported.

A pair of gussets 113 extending rearwardly from the mounting bracket 11 adjacent the outer sides of the mounting plate 12 are provided with a series of rearwardly spaced apertures 114 therethrough opposite the lower portion of the mounting plate 12. Suitable stop pins 22 disposed in opposite selected apertures 114 in the gussets 113 of the mounting bracket 11 serve as stops to maintain the outboard motor 10 in the desired vertical position as indicated in Fig. l to which it normally pivots about the horizontal hinge pin 13 which connects the said mounting plate 12 to the mounting bracket 11.

When a boat 40 having an outboard motor 20 mounted on the transom thereof by mounting means 10 illustrative of the invention, the said outboard motor assumes a normal vertical attitude as illustrated in Fig. 6 when the boat is standing still or when it is being driven by the outboard motor 20 on a straight course. When the boat 40 is being driven by the outboard motor 20 and is steered by its steering arm 202 around a turn, for example, a starboard turn, the outboard motor 20 pivots about the horizontal axis of the pivot pin 15, and assumes a position as indicated in Fig. 7 responsive to the segmental pinion 18 traveling along the arcuate beveled rack 121 of the mounting plate 12, the boat 40 listing to the starboard as indicated. In the turn illustrated in Fig. 7, the motor 20 swings to the port side of the boat 40 to aid in coun-ter# acting the listing of the said boat 40 while the propeller shaft housing 201 and the propeller 205 of the said motor 20 swings to the starboard, which maintains or tends to maintain the outboard motor 20 vertical Las the said boat 40 lists to the starboard. The extent to which the outboard motor 20 stays. vertical depends upon the degree of turning and the speed at which the -turn is made. Such swinging of the motor about its horizontal pivot pin 15 also keeps or tends to keep the propeller 205 deeper in thevwater than is normally the case when outboard motor mounting means 10 of the invention is not employed.

Although but a single embodiment of the invention has been disclosed and described in detail, it is obvious that many changes may be made in the size, shape, detail and arrangements of the various elements of the invention, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim: f

l. The method of steering an outboard motor-powered boat comprising turning the outboard motor relative to the boat about Va vertical axis for steering the boat while tilting the outboard motor relative to the boat about an axis disposed longitudinally of the boat, said tilting being accomplished to the extent that the motor is caused to remain substantially upright while Ithe boat assumes a listing attitude in response to the lateral force developed as the boat is steered in other than a straight course.

2. Means for mounting an outboard motor on the transom of an outboard motor boat comprising a mounting bracket adapted to be removably secured to the said boat transom, a mounting plate hingedly connected on a transverse axis in depending relationship from the upper portion of said mounting bracket, a rearwardly disposed motor support means pivotally connected to the upper portion of said mounting plate on a longitudinal axis, means fixed to said outboard motor mounting it in turnabler relationship on said motor support about a vertical axis, means for manually turning said motor about said vertical axis to steer the boat, and cooperating means carried by said outboard motor mounting means and said mounting plate adapted to cause said outboard motor to pivot in a lateral vertical arc about the said longitudinal pivotal axis of said motor support means responsive to manual turning of said motor to steer the said outboard motor boat on a course other than straight.

3. Means for mounting an outboard motor on the transom of an outboard motor boat comprising a mounting bracket adapted to be removably secured to the said boat transom, a mounting plate hingedly connected on a transverse axis in depending rearward cantilever relationship from a forward upper portion of said mounting Ibracket, a rearwardly disposed motor support means pivotally connected to the upper portion of said mounting plate on a horizontal longitudinal axis, king pin means fixed to said outboard motor mounting it in vertical turnable relationship on said motor support about a vertical axis, means for manually turning said motor about said vertical axis to steer the boat, and pinion and rack means carried by said king pin means and said mounting plate respectively cooperating to cause said outboard motor to pivot in a lateral vertical arc about the said horizontal longitudinal pivotal axis of said `motor support means responsive to manual turning of said motor to steer the said outboard motor boat on a course other than straight.

4. Means for mounting an outboard motor on thc transom of an outboard motor boat comprising a mounting bracket adapted to be removably secured to the said boat transom, a mounting plate hingedly connected by a transverse hinge pin in depending relationship from the upper portion of said mounting bracket, a rearwardly disposedk motor support pivotally connected by a forwardly disposed tapered hinge pin extending therefrom seated in the upper portion of said mounting plate on a horizontal longitudinal axis, a king pin fixed to said outboard motor extending through said motor support' mounting it in turnable relationship on said motor support about a vertical axis, means for manually turning said motor and said king pin about said vertical axis to steer the boat, pinion means fixed to said king pin meshed with rack means at the lower end of said mounting plate causing the said outboard motor to pivot `in a lateral vertical arc about the said longitudinal pivotal axis of said motor support responsive to manual turning of said motor to steer the boat on a course other than straight.

S. Means for mounting an outboard motor on the transom of an outboard motor boat comprising a mounting bracket adapted to be removably secured to the said boat transom, a mounting plate hingedly connected by a transverse hinge pin in depending relationship from the upper portion of said mounting bracket, a rearwardly disposed motor vsupport pivotally connected by a tapered hinge pin extending forwardly therefrom and seated in a complementary socket formed on a horizontal longitudinal axis in the upper portionof Asaid `mounting plate,

a vertically disposed king pin xed to said outboard motor and mounting it in turnable relationship on said motor support about a vertical axis, means for manually turning said motor and said king pin about said vertical axis to steer the boat,a pinion iixed on said king pin and a rack formed on the lower portion of said mounting plate, said pinion and said rack being meshed to cause the said outboard motor to pivot in a lateral vertical arc about the said longitudinal horizontal axis of said motor support responsive to manual turning of said motor to steer the boat on an other than straight course.

6. Means for mounting an outboard motor on the transom of an outboard motor boat comprising a mounting bracket adapted to be removably secured to the said boat transom, a mounting plate hingedly connected in rearwardly depending relationship on a transverse hinge pin extending laterally through the upper forward portion of said mounting bracket, a rearwardly disposed motor support pivotally connected by a tapered hinge pin extending forwardly therefrom seated in a com plementary socket formed in the upper portion of said mounting plate on a horizontal longitudinal axis, a verti cally disposed king pin lixed to said outboard motor ex tending through said motor support mounting it in turn-y able relationship on said motor support about a vertical axis, means for manually turning said motor and said king pin about said Vertical axis to steer the boat, .a pinion xed on said king pin and a rack formed on said mounting plate, said pinion and said rack being meshed to cause the said outboard motor to pivot in a lateral vertical arc about the said longitudinal horizontal axis of said motor support responsive to manual turning of said motor to steer the boat on a course other tha straight.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,735,660 Swendson et al. Nov. 12, 1929 

